YorkCountsYork, in numbers.Local help →York · England
York council area. Every figure carries its own date.
Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats drawn from the available evidence. These are analytical judgements, not an official council assessment. Where a national comparison is available, lower housing costs, lower reported poor health and higher qualification shares are treated as relative strengths; this does not prove affordability or service quality.
strength
York reports a second year meeting national air-pollution targets in 2025. That does not establish that every location meets stricter health guidelines.
Proposed response: retain street-level monitoring and test whether traffic changes sustain cleaner air without moving queues to neighbouring streets.
What could help →strength
Average private rent is £1,199 a month (August 2026) in York council area. This is £260 lower than the England average for the same month. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.2% in Haxby & Wigginton to 48.2% in Guildhall — a gap of 39.9 percentage points.
Housing costs matter most alongside earnings and the number of affordable homes available. A local average cannot tell us whether a particular household can afford its home.
What could help →strength
4.2% of people reported bad or very bad health in York council area (21 March 2021). Across England, the figure was 5.2%. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.1% in Wheldrake to 5.8% in Huntington & New Earswick — a gap of 2.7 percentage points.
This is how residents described their health in the census. It can reveal differences between neighbourhoods, but does not diagnose illness or measure current waiting times. Age profiles differ between places, so these shares do not measure service quality.
What could help →strength
38.8% of people aged 16 or over had a degree or equivalent (21 March 2021) in York council area. Across England, the figure was 33.9%. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 8.1% in Guildhall to 20% in Westfield — a gap of 11.9 percentage points.
Qualifications show one part of the skills available locally. They do not show whether people have secure jobs or work that uses those skills.
What could help →The evidence gathered here does not yet support a distinct finding in this category.
opportunity
Station Gateway works continue, while York Central has conditional land-disposal approvals and a development-zone endorsement.
The station and adjacent redevelopment need coherent walking, cycling and public-transport links. Conditional land decisions are not completed transfers or delivered homes.
What could help →opportunity
19.1% of people in York council area were aged 65 or over (21 March 2021). People aged 65 or over ranged from 8.4% in Hull Road to 32.3% in Haxby & Wigginton — a gap of 23.9 percentage points.
Age alone does not mean poor health or a need for care. Accessible homes, reliable transport and support close to home matter as people get older.
What could help →opportunity
Mapped police records are available for neighbourhoods in York council area.
Published locations are approximate and some crimes are not mapped. Counts show recorded incidents, not the chance of an individual becoming a victim.
What could help →opportunity
3 named local projects or plans have official evidence in this collection.
A published plan makes responsibilities and intentions easier to inspect. It does not prove that funding is secured or that promised benefits have arrived.
What could help →opportunity
Households facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.1% in Wheldrake to 20.5% in Westfield — a gap of 12.3 percentage points.
These households met at least two census conditions covering education, employment, health and housing. This is not an income or poverty measure.
What could help →The evidence gathered here does not yet support a distinct finding in this category.
| Evidence and response | Who could lead | Related published plans |
|---|---|---|
| Keep York Central’s future homes connected to a usable station gatewayYork Station Gateway: Works continuing; new routes announced for September 2026. York Central homes and connections: Conditional land-disposal approvals and development-zone endorsement. | City of York Council and transport partners; City of York Council, York Central Limited and Network Rail | |
| Keep cleaner air gains as traffic changes2025 monitoring year, discussed in June 2026; completed 12-month Gillygate trial reported by the council. | City of York Council | |
| Make room for homes people can affordAverage private rent is £1,199 a month (August 2026) in York council area. Homes rented privately ranged from 8.2% in Haxby & Wigginton to 48.2% in Guildhall — a gap of 39.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 21 of 21 current wards have comparable figures. | The housing and planning authorities, housing associations and developers | |
| Plan homes and care around an older population19.1% aged 65 or over; 21 March 2021. People aged 65 or over ranged from 8.4% in Hull Road to 32.3% in Haxby & Wigginton — a gap of 23.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 21 of 21 current wards have comparable figures. | Adult social care, local health services, housing providers and transport authorities | |
| Bring support closer to people in poor health4.2% reporting bad or very bad health; 21 March 2021. People reporting bad or very bad health ranged from 3.1% in Wheldrake to 5.8% in Huntington & New Earswick — a gap of 2.7 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 21 of 21 current wards have comparable figures. | Local health services, public health teams, employers and community organisations | |
| Connect local skills to local opportunities38.8% with a degree or equivalent; 21 March 2021. People aged 16+ with no qualifications ranged from 8.1% in Guildhall to 20% in Westfield — a gap of 11.9 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 21 of 21 current wards have comparable figures. | Employers, colleges, universities and the relevant skills authority | |
| Target safety work where problems repeatUse the dated, complete periods shown in Crime and safety; keep anti-social behaviour separate. | The local police force, council community safety team and relevant services | No reviewed project is linked yet. This remains a proposal, with funding and delivery to establish. |
| Target support where disadvantages overlapHouseholds facing two or more measured disadvantages ranged from 8.1% in Wheldrake to 20.5% in Westfield — a gap of 12.3 percentage points. 21 March 2021; 21 of 21 wards. | The council's housing, public health and employment teams, with local services |